Matthew 14:4
Because John had said to him, It is not right for you to have her.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
In Context
3For Herod had taken John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
Cross References
Leviticus 20:21And if a man takes his brother's wife, it is an unclean act; he has put shame on his brother; they will have no children.
2 Samuel 12:7And Nathan said to David, You are that man. The Lord God of Israel says, I made you king over Israel, putting holy oil on you, and I kept you safe from the hands of Saul;
2 Chronicles 26:18And they made protests to Uzziah the king, and said to him, The burning of perfumes, Uzziah, is not your business but that of the priests, the sons of Aaron, who have been made holy for this work: go out of the holy place, for you have done wrong, and it will not be to your honour before God.
Isaiah 8:20Then say to them, Put your faith in the teaching and the witness. ... If they do not say such things. ... For him there is no dawn. ...
Mark 6:18For John said to Herod, It is wrong for you to have your brother's wife.
Matthew Henry on Matthew 14:2-13
The Death of John the Baptist. 1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a… Read the whole commentary →